Cloud computing is the lynchpin supporting the mobility, big data and social media trends transforming how organizations and individuals engage with one another.
In 2013, automation and self service -- characteristics of cloud computing -- will eliminate the need for certain IT support and upgrade tasks, according to analysts at Frost & Sullivan. The bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend also eliminates some support tasks as well as procurement activities.
"The market for Asia Pacific public cloud computing is expected to hit $12.1 billion in 2016," said Andrew Milroy, vice president of ICT Practice at Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific. "Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia have emerged as the next hot beds of adoption for cloud computing."
Milroy believes that the perception of public clouds being less secure than private clouds is created by the vested interests of IT departments. "People are often resistant to big change," he said. "IT departments should look at why they should be doing this rather than why they shouldn't. Similarly, [big IT companies] are the ones that are holding the CIO relationships and selling these large assets on premise. Their go-to-market approach is to pitch an internal on-premise private cloud that is really secure. Obviously, we cannot rule out security concerns but it should not be over-exaggerated."
Growing cloud, shrinking IT
Across Asia Pacific, cloud computing is the number one priority in the current or future fiscal year for close to 40% of organizations polled by Frost & Sullivan. Almost a third of organizations are experiencing increasing pressure from top management to procure cloud services, "which means people outside of IT are recognizing the impact that the technology has on the business," said Milroy. "Nearly half of IT professionals believe that cloud computing will shrink IT teams and make some jobs redundant."